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A Portrait 



By 



M. Louisa Milbank 



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A Portrait 



By 
M. Louisa Milbank 



Copyright, 1905 

BY 

M. LOUISA MILBANK 




A PORTRAIT 

By 
M. LOUISA MILBANK 



I *d paint his face with all the glory of the brightest 
day — 

I *d paint his thought with all the mystery of the 
darkest night. 
Oh, blessed Night, what charm and bliss is hidden ! 

Oh, blessed Day, what joy the morn has bidden ! 
I 'd paint his smile a dazzling sunbeam's ray. 

His mouth with tender lines and curves could say 
No evil — there no wrong could stay — one hope, 

One faith, one love — an all-abounding love — 
Love that should have full sway. 

His Laughter, too, 
Should have a place upon that canvas, true. 

Oh ! I would paint with faith and love that laugh- 
ter! 
Like tiny waves that followed fast, and faster, 
And rippling make that canvas reach the sky, 



Like birds we see with wings that heavenward fly ; 

That voice should reach the angels in their songs, 
Should join in melody the heavenly throngs. 

I *d paint his eyes to see the throbbing heart, 

To read 'twixt lines of many a weary pilgrim's 
chart ; 

I *d paint those eyes, so tender, loving, keen, 
To look into your very soul, I ween. 

If such things could be, but alas ! are not. 

Who knows but He alone who fashioned us? 

And as we are we shall not be forgot. 

I *d paint his heart as true as tempered steel, 
A heart that *s burnt and purified by fires 

Unquenchable, and so is glorified. 

His hands should be as if to heal and bless; 

A touch so tender, almost a caress ; 

Never too weary to hear all human woes — 

A sympathy so sacred, God, He knows. 

And over all I *d paint an armor bright 
Of purest gold, bedecked with jewels old. 

So rich, so rare, that all the world could see 
That I would give of wealth untold that none 

Should know my knight — not one — my knight — 

But me. 




APR 6 19C5 



THE KNICKERBOCKER PRESS 
NEW YORK 



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0^ c> PreservationTechnologie 

*lp ^0^ t'^Jj!'' ^ A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATIO 

^y^ V * ^({j7^/>t^ * 1 11 Thomson Park Drive 

^ *" ^^ W^ ir.l^, Cranberry Township, PA 1 6066 

O *^©F^^^^t (724)779-2111 



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